Musical a joy from start to finish
Saint Paul Catholic High School certainly knows how to fill the pews, as their production of Sister Act had the large audience praising their unique interpretation of such an exciting, not to mention quite funky, musical.
The musical is based on the 1992 film, and follows its plot somewhat religiously. Our story follows Deloris Van Cartier, a lounge singer, who, while on her rise to fame, ends up the witness to a murder committed by her boyfriend and his thugs. After narrowly escaping being killed by the gang, Deloris is put into hiding until the trial in the local convent.
Despite her initial clash with the strict lifestyle, soon she finds herself the leader of their choir, and transforms it into a vibrant, 1970s soul act that catches worldwide attention, including that of her boyfriend. It’s then up to Deloris and the resident sisters to not only save their church, but save their lives.
The entire production was a joy from start to finish. As soon as we were brought in by the live band, I simply couldn’t wipe the smile off my face. Their impeccable timing and proficiency was commendable, though a particular standout was drummer Jonah Cappa, whose precision percussive hits and understated fills complemented the singers brilliantly.
The lighting from Carling Revill served a similar role in bolstering the performers. The use of colour and individual spotlights serviced emotional moments, and was able to complement tonally unique instances throughout the play without feeling out of place or forced.
The choreography was another area that left me feeling thoroughly impressed. The act ending numbers in particular were complex, yet were pulled off by the cast with what seemed to be relative ease. Virtually every song demanded a certain level of physicality with their performance, though clearly it was nothing the cast couldn’t handle.
As is the case with any musical however, the production truly rested on the shoulders of those on stage, as they were faced with the daunting task of both acting and singing.
However, I am happy to say that they were able to execute this with aplomb. All performers were able to hold their own when they had to belt out a few notes, though Mikhail Clemente as Eddie Souther and Madison Marino as Sister Mary Robert were both vocal powerhouses, and truly gave the audience chills when it came to each of their solos.
Another noteworthy performer was Sara Ferro as Mother Superior, whose deadpan delivery, solid singing voice, and commitment to the no-nonsense-yet-comedic role left me in stitches.
We also can’t forget our lead, Taya Caesar as Deloris, whose onstage presence was simply electric. Her charisma came out in every facet of her performance.
All in all, it seems that the cast and crew were blessed with some gifts from above, and they were all put on display in the show. Despite some minor, unavoidable audio mishaps, they put on a rousing performance, one that I won’t soon forget.